The final numbers were tallied this week: The biggest winner of the Cash for Clunkers program was Toyota, which sold nearly 1 out of every 5 cars that were purchased with a U.S. government subsidy. The top-selling car in the program was the Toyota Corolla.

And how did Toyota return the favor for its sweet little uptick in U.S. market share? The Japanese automaker delivered a slap in the face to the American workers who had been making those Corollas.

In announcing that it would be halting production at the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant in Fremont, Toyota also gave the cold shoulder to California legislators who had been assembling a package of incentives - including tax credits and creation of an enterprise zone - in an attempt to preserve the 4,700 jobs within the plant, along with the many suppliers and other businesses that will be hurt by the closure.

The drive along Interstate 880 will soon carry two empty landmarks of Toyota's retreat from the Bay Area: the Nummi plant, and the gleaming new showroom off Hegenberger Road in Oakland that was open barely two months before it was shut down in February.